Surf Abu Dhabi Pro: Day Two

Lets not forget the photographer incident with Felipe - the highlight of the event for me. He was gone long before it but it was nice to see the WSL under some pressure and having to deal with it on the spot. Lots of raw emotion. Fun times. We need more of it.

The extreme contrast of cultures; labourers, lords & lifestylers, reminds me of this tune...

I’m not a huge Flippy fan but I thought he got screwed on that call. Not so much the score on that wave but you can’t tell me having to change from a magic quad to backup thruster and the change in emotional mindset didn’t effect his next ride. He should’ve had at least an opportunity to reset before surfing his left…it’s not like they can’t make another one…

Sheiks owning the WSL? They’d probably drop the women’s tour.

Some athletes & Govt's set up a foundation for supporting under privileged children

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/privileged

I made a bet to myself that FR couldn't not mention 'that wetsuit' and I lost. Remarkable restraint exercised there.

I kinda enjoyed the comp as long as I was awake for it. I especially enjoyed watching the womens. Gab Bryan was impressively poweful but let down by her tube riding and little Erin Brooks- that little chipmunk farking tears.

And I'm not sorry to say- that wetsuit looks fucking stupid regardless of who wears it.

I wonder if Tyler got advice from WSL to keep a low profile and not stir up any shit?

Either way it's a smart move keeping a low profile and not trying to push any limits.

Yeah particularly the top echelon of the sport if they were hard core re' beliefs they could just skip this event ala TC and resume at the next one. My take is that none of them feel especially hard about it and it isn't in their face on a day to day basis. Let's face it none of them are going there for a holiday anytime soon - not even Tyler. I disagree indo if anyone should be pushing the limits it is Tyler - she is well heeled and on the slow down hill to retirement - she can afford it.

But im with Zen above about the wetsuit.......can anyone explain it .....wtf are Rip curl thinking letting her wear that....wouldn't do their brand any favors ...........hideous

Great writeup FR, particularly the research.

I don't know how you sit through the entire telecast, that there is dedication. I myself have watched less than 5mins in total.

Regarding Tyler. I have been struggling to get my head around her decision to participate, particularly with everything FR wrote above and her vocal stance on so many issues close to her heart. I keep going back to money over morals, but I'm more so wondering about the contractual aspect of the WSL. Is there something in their contracts that states they must attend all events unless they are injured (or similar) to try and stop the "athletes" making a stand? The cynic in me thinks this may well be the case. The sterile and scripted post heat interviews is just one example that lead me in this direction.

In this day and age the moral compass should be pointed at the WSL,prostituting the sport to the highest paying customer!

I only watched this snoozefest to see how the female progressives would do. Molly pushed the envelope the most, while Erin was a little bit more naive. Did LIV golf not teach the WSL anything?

Whatever they paid Tyler, if it means we never have to see her take a knee again or bark about inequality from her high horse, then hoo fucking ray! Gonna look pretty hollow from here on. Disappointing.
And great article FR. Someone had to say it.
(ps Tyler pic in article cracked me up).

Managed to watch most of the past couple of days. Definitely not the most entertaining. I’m definitely not Felipe biggest fan. But the way that incident with the camera man played out how nothing was stopped then just straight into he’s left without any explanation I thought was pretty poor form seems a bit unfair. Either way though I still think kanoa was gonna win. But still didn’t seem right to me personally. Should be good good quarters today. Would love to see Ethan take it by surfing he’s sharp smooth rail work. instead of these other guys constant premeditated alley poops

And the patriarchy prevailed with it's iron fist and bottomless pockets, and they all lived happily ever after.

Filipe should have had a backup board ready, especially if he tries to lineup the camera man on the end section in anger after taking the piss for a large portion of the wave.

Then to spit the dummy was just classic brazzo bullshit

Another excellent report Steve. Delving deeper to expose certain things while also raising questions about the sport and those involved at top level. Certainly more so than any other surf journalist. Keep up the good work. I always enjoy your take on things around the event, as well as the comp itself. Even if Tyler was contracted to appear at Abu Dhabi, as all the athletes supposedly are, she still could have done a Kelly and suffered one of those mysterious opportune injuries, to boycott the event. But maybe wearing the yellow jersey again, with the golden allure of winning another world title, proved too hard to resist, despite everything else she stands for etc. That's a serious competitor! Sadly, from the little footage we saw, she looked a lone figure there without support. Still, I expect she'll bounce back.

If Tyler wins, should make for an interesting speech at presentation time.

jackson and erin highlights for me….honourable mentions to jordy and gabby as well- ‘twas much more entertaining than the first day

The WSL losing coin at a rate of knots , what choice but to go to the pool in the Middle East it’s probably propping up the whole tour one event . The surfers just go cause what choice do they have either And what’s an event without a brazo having a dummy spit normally it’s italo .

bloody hell, more boring write up then the comp itself. I had to skip thru all the gay and black lives matter stuff. You had one chance to finally write something entertaining based on Filipees cameraman rage incident and totes missed it. I mean , u have one job dude. One job. Writing a world tile campaigner can make quarters now relax job done shows a very poor understating of a WCT season and what it takes to win.

Highlight for me was Flick The Limey explaining that the surfers, while sitting on the exercise bikes, would be telling John Dorys to each other. Second time I’ve heard her pull out some good rhyming slang. Forever fan.

So someone who has stood up against injustices (whether one agrees or not) and is on dangerous ground atm becomes the case study? And not all the other competitors who are complicit and have always hidden behind the “oh, I’m just having fun” mantra?

hope the same political critique is brought to bear on surfing competitions in for example the good old USA given its human rights record (which is in overdrive right now).

Plenty of great points made by Steve. Does make you think doesn’t it?

In my book this whole event says much more about the WSL than Tyler. I feel sorry for her that her employer is forcing the athletes to support a country that has the human rights history that they have.

She’s between a rock and a hard place. I didn’t realise they took the flag off of her jersey, that says a lot. It’s just ‘keep quiet, do your thing and everything will be ok’……..this one could just be a ‘too hard basket’ for her. She’s older/wiser also. For those following, seems much more level headed in her interviews this past 6-12 months.

We also talk as though there wouldn’t be other gay people involved in this tour. I’d be flabbergasted if Tyler was the only one.

Nothing has changed, the WSL is f@$ked

It is horrible what they have been able to achieve there with low labour costs; they have been in that appalling desert for 1000 of years and lost any compassion for humanity; however, we could find an alarming amount of comparisons in Australia, we are just behind them, we are already mining the fuck out of our own country, and a selective few are benefiting, in 20 years no children will be able to leave home except for the elite who will own all the housing. Are we taking a stand on this or just turning the head as our lifestyle of big V'8's and airconditioned living rooms is too hard to walk away from

The WSL has set the bar so low with this event they're going to need James Cameron to find it.

Appears Tyler’s conviction for equality and the betterment of the human race is not as strong as Kelly’s decade long stand against surfing shitty waves at the will of the wsl.

FR, you've educated me on Tyler Wrights position on human rights, it seems to me she can stand tall. She's stated her position, the public and the officials know it, the owners of the pool know it. She is brave to go there and compete, her beliefs and sexuality will get jail time in Abu Dhabi. No other competitor has made any statements about their beliefs, we know her stance. Why critique her beliefs? Its not a sell out.

Some pro Tyler comments and a couple Bintangs have roused me into this quagmire shit fuck of a conversation.

Common dick bags, a lot of commenters here disregarding that Tylers 30 years young, has improved her P.R game, and in addition we got some real fuck knuckles talking like homosexuality ain't no hard road to hoe even in this comparative paradise.

This situation not comparable with T.Cs absence from South Africa. Different.

Showing up is victory here. Slow, it shows the shieks are shifting. Like sands on the bottom of a slightly slippery mechanical monstrosity.

In addition, and I'm on the cocktails now, but anyway yeah, there were other talking points. Miggy got a sick one. Jordy needs a bigger version. Tall people are being royally fucked at this size. I guess the ladies come that little bit easier so got to take your licks you tall fucks.

A few of the boys fessing up to minor punting on the sidelines, and J.P having to smooth things over. Classic.

Personally I'd love to see a little turban wearing Persian in the mix, or a Chinaman for that matter.

I'd be lying to say I wouldn't love a wave like that. One wave. One before you take me.

Who could say they would not do the same? Holding and expressing principles which cost nothing is "great and who could truly say if it came down to sacrificing career goals or livelihood they would not modify or abandon those principles, even if just for a short while?"

For $13,500 ?
9th place?
Me Steve, I wouldn't abandon my principles for what I could make in a few weeks painting houses.
No fucking way.
Not even ten times that.
In my younger days I did abandon my principles to advantage myself.
Self loathing kicked in at some point.
So my principle ever since has been to never abandon them for anyone or anything, even if it meant I lost everything I had or had to gain, which I have a couple of times, (nothing to do with principles) because that taught me I can always start again.
But compromising my beliefs, for anything, made me feel not like a man, but something else, something I hated, in myself or when I saw it in others.
And it lingers. It lingers in your soul. It did in mine anyway.
So if I was a lesbian pro surfer who took that knee, that principled stand, taken some leadership about something I believed, I wouldn't have shown up and fuck the consequences.
People compromising their principles is in part why this world of ours is.....what it is. Leaders in particular.
" Any man who changes his principles depending on whom he is dealing with, is not a man who can lead a nation"
Nelson Mandela
I know I'm sounding like a fkn wanker here, but I live by that sentiment these days, my version of it ends with "is not a man", or "who can lead" and I would add "to be admired, liked, or trusted".
I didn't watch this comp., not based on principles, it was just boring and I lasted about a minute, and I would kill to surf that wave but even if I was being paid, I wouldn't go there, for some of the reasons you mentioned about the place which go against my principles. I'd regret not riding that wave, but I'd fkn sleep at night.

And I was really looking forward to hear what you had to say about the Filipe incident, maybe next write up?

I reckon enough is enough with the negativity it's just turned into a whingefest now.
It's 1 event only and with a little luck (for all those whose lives are seemingly being altered in some way by this event's existence),there won't be another one next year,or any other year.
If there is,stiff fking shite.
There's 365 days in the year,this event is taking up 3 of them.
I've certainly seen quite a few CT contests over many years held in 'real waves' but crappier than the pool waves.
It just is what it is,if you don' like it,don't watch it.
And for the author,don't report on it,just ignore it.
I mean if there had of been no event at all between Pipe and Portugal,would there be a story on here shitcanning the WSL for not having an event 1 week after Pipe and a couple of weeks before Portugal?
It'd be much more likely there'd be no story on anything at all during that time i reckon.
A bit of whinging and negativity is standard for the pool events i know,but when it becomes so over the top it's seemingly some kind of mission to alert the WSL that 'everyone' hates wavepool comps and they'll read the comments here and decide never to hold another pool comp again based on Swellnet readers vote of no confidence comments,then i think some heads need to be pulled in pretty drastically.
Yes the pool comps are overall pretty crap and boring,but they're here and there's only 1 a year,and not even every year since they first appeared.
Deal with it,or totally ignore it.
Moaning and groaning about it so intensely just makes it seem like those doing it don't have much of a life outside of watching surf contests it seems to me.

Yeah i've seen the comments about it on various forums,all overwhelmingly the same.
They were 5 years ago too,and what did they change?
Personally i don't give a fig if they have another pool comp again or not,i didn't 5 years ago either.
As i write this the comp just finished and is done for at least another year,maybe forever who knows.
So everyone can calm down now after blowing off all their rarara blablabla lol.
Hang my head in shame for what?
Not being a chronic complaining negative keyboard warrior?
I reckon the WSL don't even read the comments on their own website,so this one and the others?
I'm not defending pool comps as i said i don't care,but i'm not gonna endlessly shit can them too when there's only 1 a year.
Besides,Jack Robbo just got 3rd in it and got his start to the year back on track.
So i'll bet any money you won't hear him slagging it off like some other comments i've read saying he hates it and wishes it didn't exist.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18FnDKxaVy/

Just saw that clip again, Fil was losing - he knew he didnt have the score - don't tell me he didn't see photog - these guys are used to massively crowded line ups Inc photogs - he couldve taken high line - he hit him deliberately and claimed interference. There, I said it.

Ahhh, principles. “Who you do business with is just as important as what you choose to do.” “If you can't see yourself working with someone for life, don't work with them for a day"

When are they going to deduct points for forced ugly landings after airs? It seems like some surfers are still paying for making things look too easy.

I feel for the position tyler is now in and simultaneously I've found prior positioning pretty high handed

This is so easy to say in hindsight and from a personal position of zero public scrutiny
but here's an imaginary counterfactual...

When Tyler came out as gay and in support of Black Lives Matter say she expressed it with more humility? Something along the lines of:

"this feels really important to me. I'm doing my best to support others who may feel marginalised. I'm feeling secure and clear headed in my life right at the moment so I have the courage to speak up. I'm going to try and continue to operate that way. But I haven't always felt so secure and I can't promise I will always feel and act in ways that feel this aligned in the future. I'm just trying to raise awareness and encourage everyone to think about what they can do to help, and where possible act"

I reckon a lot more people would have compassion for her now in this time of relative silence... I would say there's a fair chance arab oil money ends up owning pro-surfing. Surfing has been the only career she's ever known. I would guess she has few (no?) other options that would offer her the same security and benefits that pro-surfing does. If she disses them hard here, there is a v strong chance she get's quietly but firmly marginalised in the closing chapters of her career. I imagine she still harbours hopes of achieving long heald childhood ambitions such as a further world titles in those closing chpaters.

I get that people call her out and I guess it's the role of a good journalist to remind us of some of the facts which I think FR has done. She does looks like a hypocrite right now.

Think of issues like climate change though - it's almost impossible to care about climate change and live in the first world without being a hypocrite on the issue. Almost impossible to not compalain about crowds in the surf, and yet you are the crowd in the surf (not my line, but one on here I read once and loved).

I hate the degree of wealth inequality in the world, and that this means that the best option that millions of people from places like Bangladesh etc. have no better options, and find themselves trapped in positions like they do in the midddle east. I give some money to charity... but I spend more on overseas carbon costly family holidays to the third world we take most years. Like kicking your dog and then donating to the RSPCA? Hypocritcal? Yep, guilty as charged.

Who here can honestly look in the mirror and say differently of themselves.

oh my god whoever is in charge of stitching together the WSL highlight reels needs to be boiled in acid. what in the fucking fuck is this bullshit: https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/539381/highlights-finals-day-surf-...

super loud dramatic music, 2 second clips of exclusively not critical surfing, 90% filler shots of the pool. i hate it so much